Briggs: 'This is a must-have' game for 2-2 Bears

"It’s huge,’’ Briggs said. "It’s a division game. And it’s a game that puts us right in the mix or will set us back three games. We’re just coming off two losses in the conference. This is a must-have. We have to have it, period.’’

Monday’s success will depend a lot on the Bears defense re-establishing itself. As defensive end Julius Peppers put it, the defense has been "in a funk’’ in recent weeks. The 2-2 Bears stand second-to-last in the league in total defense yielding a whopping 425.8 yards per game. They're also yielding 23.5 points per game, almost six more points a game than last season.

"The yards have been there a lot, and point as well,’’ linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "We’re giving up a lot of points and yards, which aren’t a good thing. Luckily, we managed to win two of those games. I don’t know what it is. We’re just not making big plays. We’re giving up too many long runs, too many long passes. We’re giving up big plays and not making any ourselves. So, we need to swap that somehow and try and figure out (how) to get back to the way we used to play.’’

Briggs was asked if missing guys such as Chris Harris (hamstring) have contributed to the defensive woes.``I can't blame Chris Harris for the plays I messed up,'' Briggs said. "There are no excuses.''

The Bears have faced two elite quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees and two rising stars In Matt Ryan and Cam Newton. Lions signal-caller Matthew Stafford won’t make life any easier, especially with a target like "Megatron’’ Calvin Johnson in his arsenal.

Stafford has been knocked out of action in two previous games against the Bears, including last year after Julius Peppers put a crushing hit on the quarterback.

"When the guy’s in the game and playing, he makes good decisions,’’ Briggs said of Stafford. ``He has a nice ball. He’s got a great arm. Just watching film, the guy can throw the ball all the way across the field under pressure. As long as he’s healthy, he can put his team in position to win.’’